No one knows what to say. Our privacy was invaded. Not only had Mani put bugs in my house, but he also put cameras. And Jay has been watching our every move. He found our safe house, which means nowhere we go is ever going to be safe until he dies. I’m so fucking tense my shoulders are screaming in pain, but no matter how many times I try to roll them, nothing fucking helps.
It doesn’t bother me that he plastered the pictures of me in that hellhole. What bothers me is that he invaded my privacy inside my home. I’ve already dealt with what he did to me. The main thing that bothers me is that he constantly reminds me he’s still here and after me.
Rocco went earlier and checked the cabin that Gage and I have to see if it’s clear, and we’re going to hunker down there for tonight. We’ll figure out the rest tomorrow. Ghost is going to sit vigil on the outside with his guys to protect us, for which I’m grateful. Ghost and Caden more than earned their place with us. As soon as this is over, I’ll officially welcome them to the Poletti family.
I settle for the car ride to the cabin, leaning on Dex when I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I pull it out, an unknown number flashing across the screen. “Look alert,” Dex says, seeing it too. Everyone is instantly alert, and I can feel the car drift to the side of the road.
“What?” I answer.
“Did you get my present, Precious?” Jay’s voice oozes through the phone like poison.
“Sure didn’t.” I pause. “Oh, you mean the pictures? Did you get my present?” He goes quiet, and I know he has no idea that his personal bank is dead. “Viktor’s dead.” He still doesn’t say anything, and I check to make sure he didn’t hang up. The line is still open. I finally shut him up for once. “Nothing to say? That’s fine; I’ll talk. I know about Mani too. But I’m sure you already know about that since you showed up at what’s left of my house.”
“You need to stop this game, Precious. I would hate to see you getcaught in the crosshairs. Oh, and Zane? I paid a visit to your daddy today.” Zane’s entire body goes rigid. Zane’s dad, Zeus, passed away years ago, which can only mean one thing. “I forgot how beautiful his headstone was.” I catch the impliedwasthe same time Zane does.
“You motherfucker,” Zane growls.
Jay laughs. “I thought you would like to know he still had people to visit him. You wanted to play it this way, Precious; now you can deal with the consequences.”
“You really are fucking sick.”
“How long before they get sick of everything you’ve brought to their front door? How long before they get so sick of this shit and leave you alone? Mark my words, Precious, the day will come, and you will be mine.”
Holden gives me a frantic keep-going signal while tapping on his computer. “They won’t ever leave me. Do you want to know why? Because they know what love is. You don’t have the first goddamn clue. Did Mommy not hug you enough as a child? Did Daddy touch you in the no-no spot? What is it, Jay, that makes you resort to stalking and nearly raping women?”
“You don’t know the first thing about me,” Jay growls, and I know I hit somewhere close to the mark.
“What’s wrong, Jay? Which is it? It was Daddy, wasn’t it? Is that why you got cut off from his money?”
“Leave my father out of this!”
I exchange a glance with Dex. “You wanna talk about it? Do you need a shoulder to cry on?”
Holden starts gesturing wildly to his computer, and a dot flashes on the screen with coordinates. He types those in, and an address pops up. Gage takes his laptop, shows it to Zane, and Zane whips the car in a U-turn, flooring the gas. Is this finally it? My heart is pumping out of control; my palms are getting sweaty. Are we finally going to end this once and for all?
“You changed, Precious. What happened to the girl that used to lie there and let me give her so much pleasure without a word?”
My stomach rolls and Gage jerks the phone out of my hand. “What’s up, Jay? Gage here. You know, the one you thought died? Mydad tried that once, didn’t stick. Anyway, when I get my hands on you, I’m going to rip your fucking eyeballs out with my bare hands. Then I’m going to cut off every finger that ever touched her. Then I’ll cut your shriveled cock off and mail it to your dad to remember you by. Until then, have a fantastic fucking night.” Gage hits the end call button and hands my phone back.
A hysterical laugh bubbles out, and I clamp my hand over my mouth to stop the sound. It’s no use; I lose it. Every eye in the car stares at me as if I’ve completely lost my mind, and I probably have. Jay mentioning me not fighting him when he touched me in front of my guys brought so much damn shame. The laughs turn to tears, and I can feel my lungs starting to seize up. Everything from today slams into me. Almost losing Micah, and my greatest shame being broadcasted for all the guys to see.
“Shit,” I hear Dex mutter, “Baby girl. Look at me. You need to breathe.” I shake my head, tears streaming down my face. I feel like I’m drowning; Dex’s face is cutting in and out. “Come on. I need you to breathe. Zane, stop the fucking car!”
I can hear the panic in Dex’s voice, something I’ve never heard before. I want to reach out and tell him it’s okay, but I can’t get my arms to move. They feel like they’re filled with lead.
“Zane! She’s not breathing!”
Chapter 41
Holden
“Zane! She’s not breathing!” Dex yells.
Les is as limp as a rag doll. I grab her hand, and it’s as cold as ice.
Zane slams on the brakes, jerking the car to the side of the road. He’s out of the car and running to the backdoor, yanking it open as soon as the car is in park. “Get her out of the car.”
Dex gathers Les in his arms, and she doesn’t move. Her arms lay limp, her head hanging off his arm. Zane helps him get her the rest of the way out. Then they lay her on the ground beside the car. Zane drops to his knees beside her, all of us watching, not knowing what the fuck to do. “Beautiful.” He pats the side of her face. “Alessa, you need to come out of this.” Out of what? Her gorgeous blue eyes are wide open, moving around wildly. “ALESSA!” Zane yells in her face. “Come back to us, Beautiful,” Zane pulls her up so she’s against his chest. “Come on. Come on. Come on.” He’s rocking her back and forth, tears starting to form in his eyes. “You can do this. Come back to us.”
